The Hindu : Front Page : Natwar Singh quits, says he is innocent

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 07, 2005

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Natwar Singh quits, says he is innocent

Special Correspondent

"I am innocent but do not want to be the excuse for stalling of Parliament"

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Natwar Singh announced on Tuesday night that he had resigned from the Council of Ministers.

He said he did not want to be an excuse for the Opposition to stall the proceedings of Parliament. Maintaining that he was "completely innocent" in the Volcker issue and no charges had been framed against him, Mr. Natwar Singh told reporters here that Parliament and his party were "above an individual."

Mr. Natwar Singh read out a three-paragraph statement:

"Parliament continues to be stalled and important legislative business which has a significant bearing on India's future and the welfare of our people is being held up. This is most unfortunate.

"I reiterate that I am completely innocent, and that no charges have either been framed or brought against me.

"However, Parliament and my party, the Congress, are above individuals. I do not wish to be the excuse for the Opposition to stall the functioning of Parliament. Hence, I have decided to resign from the Union Cabinet, despite the fact that I have not violated any law in letter or in spirit."

The statement came after Mr. Singh had a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the second during the past 24 hours.

On Monday night Mr. Singh met her and later the party announced that the Minister had communicated to her the decision to step down after the return of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from Moscow on Wednesday.

However, the Opposition continued to disrupt proceedings of both Houses for the third consecutive day.

Jagat Singh, son of Mr. Natwar Singh, blamed the Congress for "mishandling" the entire episode and charged that some "intellectuals" in the party were after his father.

Team leaves for Iraq

Investigations into the alleged payment gathered pace with a team of Enforcement Directorate officials leaving here for Iraq.

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